The Miami Heat are often regarded as a gritty team with the players having excellent on-court and off-court chemistry together. For the most part, the Heat are a cohesive unit. However, there was one point in the 2021-2022 season when a scuffle broke out on the Heat’s bench. During a clash against a Stephen Curry-less Golden State Warriors side, Jimmy Butler got into a verbal altercation with Udonis Haslem and Erik Spoelstra. The full audio leak has since surfaced on social media.
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Apart from having a similar facial structure, there are several reasons why fans compare Jimmy Butler to Michael Jordan. The two legends’ have similar traits – being clutch, having the drive to be a winner, and being competitive. However, it is Butler’s aggression over all else that is so deeply reminiscent of the Bulls legend, something that was a big cause behind the fight in the first place.
Jimmy Butler got into a heated argument with Erik Spoelstra and Udonis Haslem
During the 23rd March 2022 clash against the Golden State Warriors, a scuffle broke out on the Heat bench. During a timeout, Jimmy Butler had a verbal altercation with Udonis Haslem and Erik Spoelstra. More than a year later, audio of the clip has been leaked and fans can now clearly hear the details of the entire conversation between the three. Take a look at the NSFW comments:
Butler: I didn’t know who the f**k was there
Spoelstra: What? You think I’m going to f**king fight you?
Haslem: We’re not your f**king enemies… I’ll beat you’re a**.
Butler: No, you wouldn’t.
Haslem: I’ll beat you’re a**.
Butler: Do it.
Right after the two were separated, the Heat head coach lost his cool, threw his coaching board on the ground, and continued cussing at his star player.
Spoelstra: Stop, who the f**k do you think you are?
Butler: Don’t disrespect me.
Spoelstra: I’m not gonna fight you. You think it’s all about you, Jimmy. Come on man, what the f**k is he talking about? What the f**k is wrong with you? How am I disrespecting you? You’re the one disrespecting me.
Eventually, the South Florida side ended up sustaining a 104-118 loss. Suffering a 14-point loss against the GSW, who played without Steph, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, on top of their scuffle, was a huge embarrassment.
The Heat opened up about the scuffle almost a month later. Not covering up any of their behavior, Haslem did reveal that the two ‘were going to kick each other’s a**’.
The Miami Heat ended up advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals
The Miami Heat’s loss against the GSW was one of four straight losses. However, the team managed to regroup and kept their emotions in check. To close out the regular season, the Heat won six of their last seven games to clinch the No.1 seed in the East.
After defeating the Atlanta Hawks and the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2022 postseason, Jimmy Butler and Co. eventually suffered a tough Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 7.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, the franchise did display a lot of heart, coming back strong following the awful scuffle that broke out in late March.
